The School was founded in 1887 through the generosity and public spirit of Sir Samuel Marling, Sir Francis Hyett, Mr S S Dickinson, and other local benefactors.

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School History

Foundation of the School

Two prominent local industrialists Samuel Stephens Marling and Sebastian Stewart Dickinson recognised the lack of education for “middle class” boys, the sons of farmers, tradesmen and other residents of “moderate means”. There were already plenty of elementary schools for the working classes and public schools for the wealthy.

Following the death of Dickinson in 1878, in 1880 Marling wrote to the Feoffes (Trustees) of the Stroud Charities offering £10,000 towards the establishment of such a school, and Dickinson’s widow offered £1,000 to be used as scholarships in her husband’s name.

The Charity Commissioners finally gave approval for the foundation of the school on 28th November 1887, and this has always been considered the date of the foundation of the school and it finally opened in 1891.

Sir Samuel Marling died in 1883, so did not see the school take shape, but two of his sons were among the original seventeen Governors.